Bibliotaph (1 John 5.14-15)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “bibliotaph.”  I remember the first semester of my Masters program. I have never done so much reading in my life. In fact, up until that point I don't think I had ever read an entire book all the way through. Sure, I had read parts of books for school and for fun. But, I really did not have a love for reading. That's when I realized that if I was going to get through a full Masters degree program I was going to need to love reading… and fast. That was the only way I was going to be able to read 10 huge books a quarter. I prayed hard, and miraculously, God answered.

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” ~1 Jn. 5:14-15

My question is: do you pray for the stuff that God would want for you? One of the main lessons I learned in the beginning of that program was if I prayed according to God's will, he would answer. And, I am absolutely positive that there is no way that I would have made such a miraculous jump from hating to read, to the other end of the pendulum and loving to read, unless it was by God's divine hand. Now, you may or may not believe that. But, I am a firm believer that if we ask according to God's will, he will answer us. My prayer is that you do just that… Pray according to what you believe God would want for your life. This is tough because we know that sometimes God may not want the things that we do. But, it works out when we trust him. Hey, how else would I have ended up one of the world's great bibliotaphs?

Praying for you,

MO

Penetralia (Colossians 3.15-17)

Good morning all, 

The word of the day is “penetralia.” I think what sets Christians apart, or is God's intention to do so, is the understanding that we are called to be a people of peace that love other Christians, and nonbelievers. Today's passage talks about being thankful, which is very appropriate considering the fact that Thanksgiving is tomorrow. This is a great time for each Christian to take a moment and evaluate his or her relationship with God.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” ~Col. 3:15-17

My question is: What are the parts of yourself that you set aside for God? I know that it is important for us to remember more often than not how God has bestowed his blessings upon us.  However, sometimes we fail to understand that as God’s people share an intimate connection with him.  My prayer is that you allow God into your life’s pentralia to be known and shaped by the Creator.  When he knows the innermost parts of us, we are more apt to move closer to him, building the relationship, and eventually living as a witness for his glory.

Praying for you,

MO

Splendiferous (Psalm 145.3-5)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “splendiferous.” This week marks the beginning of a pretty crazy season. It seems to me that the Christmas season starts earlier and earlier every year. Which means, along with that is the chaos and shopping and everything in between. The psalmist reminds us this morning that no matter what the season, we should always remember that God's greatness outweighs anything that may consume our minds and hearts at any given moment.

God is magnificent; he can never be praised enough. There are no boundaries to his greatness. Generation after generation stands in awe of your work; each one tells stories of your mighty acts. Your beauty and splendor have everyone talking; I compose songs on your wonders. ~Ps. 145:3-5

My question is: what are you most thankful for at this point in your life? As we enter this holiday season, my prayer is that you always put forth God's greatness, and remember that he is the reason for all that is good in your life. As he continues to guide you daily, allow his splendiferous nature to encompass your very being. Give God thanks for his mighty acts in your life today.

Praying for you,

MO

Penurious (Matthew 6.19-21)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is "penurious.” I read a great book some years ago about the rat race of life. Sometimes it seems that we are just trying to keep up, keep our heads above the water. However, at the same time that I read the book, I had been a Christian, and community leader for a number of years. I realized that of course we need to be productive in society, but if we do not have a relationship with God then it pretty much does not mean anything.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ~Matt 6:19-21

My question is: where do you find your riches in life? One of my mentors used to often say, and still does, that we must add value to others each day if we want to make it worth anything. My prayer is that each of us searches the depths of our souls and find what drives us. I made it a point very early on to make sure to do my best at all times and, in every situation, to put God and his plan first. That is not always easy.  Because at the end of life, no matter how many material possessions we have, it is all penurious without the love and fellowship of God and his people.

Praying for you,

MO

Empyreal (John 3.13)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “empyreal.”  I think one of the most fascinating parts of being a Christian is knowing that some day we will be in Heaven with God and the rest of those who believed in this lifetime.  There a ton of shows and movies that give portrayals of what it will be like, or of people who have experienced Heaven in one way or another. But the reality of it all is that our Savior is unique in the fact that he has both ascended and descended from the place we will one day be.

“No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.” ~Jn 3:13

My question is: are you ready for the richness that God has in store for you and me? I know that's a little bit of a rhetorical question, because each of us has so much more to do in this lifetime. My prayer is that you keep the important matters important, and those that are not as important where they need to be. Keep your eyes focused on Heaven, knowing that Jesus has called you to be a part of that community following this lifetime. And then that which at one time seemed empyreal, will then become reality.

Praying for you,

MO

Slugabed (Mark 1.35)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “slugabed.”  What an awesome word!  I remember playing sports and doing a ton of extracurricular activities while I was in high school.  It seems that I never had enough time in the day.  And then something happened.  I accepted Jesus somewhere around my sophomore year.  I was pretty new in the faith and had a lot of good mentorship, pointing me in the right direction in a relationship with God.  Part of this was adding prayer to my routine.  It did not seem tough at first, but when I realized that I had to actually set some time aside to now and again, it caused me to have to rethink my schedule.  It’s taken me several years, and even now sometimes I struggle with getting away to spend some time with God.  I always lean on today’s verse in my quest to fit that time in, along with a busy schedule. 

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. ~Mark 1:35

My question is: how do you fit prayer into your routine?  JC was no slugabed by any means… he made sure to sneak away before the day started on this occasion to make sure he got some good time with his Father.  It’s not necessarily even that you have to get up early in the morning or stay up late at the end of the day to do so.  Spending time in prayer, and investing in your relationship with Jesus, must be a proactive piece of your life.  And, even though we are supposed to pray always, we do need to find time to set aside to allow God to speak to us.  My prayer is that you do just that; carve out a little bit of time for God today and allow him to speak to you.  You will be amazed with what he might have to say.

Praying for you,

MO

Panglossian (1 Corinthians 15.1-23)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “Panglossian.” The Apostle Paul had a pretty rough time individually after he was changed on that road to Damascus.  We see in today’s passage that he understood the responsibility put on him as an ambassador for JC, knowing his past life.  His belief and trust in God was very focused, and Paul realized that others should share in his passion; but to do so they would have to first put their faith in Christ and his ultimate return.

My friends, I want you to remember the message that I preached and that you believed and trusted. You will be saved by this message, if you hold firmly to it. But if you don’t, your faith was all for nothing.” ~1 Cor 15:1-2

My question is:  are you putting your faith in JC, both on a daily basis as well as hope for eternity? Living a Christian life is not about having an absurd Panglossian belief that Jesus might return.  It is having true faith in the fact that our optimism is healthy and real, knowing the God will do what it says in the scriptures. My prayer is that you take a moment to reassure yourself about the promise in which you believe. Allow God to strengthen your belief and resolve, both for this life and in the next.

Praying for you,

MO

Indefatigable (Galatians 6.1-10)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is "indefatigable." There are often times in our lives when we get tired. I remember when I was getting my masters degree some years ago, and there was a point in time where I felt like no matter how much I tried to sleep, there was always something more to do. And, even when I had a moment to rest my eyes, it was never enough. There was always something to get done. I did not know if I could ever get it all done. Well, today's passage is an encouragement to Christians not to give up striving for the kingdom, and taking as many souls with us as possible.

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." ~Gal. 6:9

My question is: are you willing to wait for God's timing to reap the benefits that he has in store, both for you and his people? The Apostle Paul knew all too well that he needed to thrive just a little bit longer with indefatigable tenacity, knowing that God would bring the harvest at the proper time. My prayer is that you keep a steadfast heart, and no matter how tired you are, either in life or spiritually, that you give just a little bit more. God will be faithful to deliver his people in the proper time.

Praying for you,

MO

Inconnu (Galatians 5.14)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “inconnu.” There is a lot of madness going on out in the world right now. The way that people treat one another is often pretty appalling. What I realized when I accepted Jesus as my Savior was that I was now called to a higher standard. It was now my job to love not only my fellow Christians, but everybody with whom I came into contact. This is sometimes tough. People are not always the nicest. However, today's challenge is summed up in one verse…

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ~Gal 5:14

My question is: are you the kind of Christian that others would look at and want to emulate? Meaning, are you a good enough person where people would want to be like you. Apostle Paul had to make some pretty dramatic changes in his life after accepting Christ as Savior. My prayer is that you also take inventory, and see where you need to judge less and love more. God has called us to love without borders. We are called to be witnesses to both those who know Jesus, especially those who do not. We must take challenge seriously.

Praying for you,

MO

Soporific (Psalm 119:98-105)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “saporific.”  Although it is the longest psalm in the Bible, it is definitely one of my favorites.  And, I love today’s verse because it makes my mouth water every time.  I think that the writer of this Psalm really captures the essence of God’s word, and what it should be in each of our lives.

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” ~Ps. 119:103

My question is: do you allow God’s word to permeate your soul, and drink it in as if it were the sweet nectar that the psalmist puts forth?  I think we each need to take a good amount of time to remember that without God’s word it is very difficult to navigate through life.  Many of the times that I talk to people about hardships, and I ask them if they have gone to prayer or looked at God’s word, I am astonished to find out that neither of those aspects have been a part of the process.  My prayer is that you respond favorably to the soporific goodness of God’s word, taking in as much as possible in hopes that it will change your life.

Praying for you,

MO

Magnanimous (Luke 9.61-62)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “magnanimous.”  Today we honor the men and women who serve this great country.  You know, the more I talk to servicemen and servicewomen who put on the uniform, the more I realize how much hope there is for not just this nation, but humanity as a whole.  And, for Christians, I believe that it is a little bit more at home to think of what it means to serve.  Not that Christians do a better, but that we are held to a higher standard.  Picking up the cross for Jesus is no simple task.  Once you become a soldier for Jesus Christ, you are choosing to give up all of your rights, and take up a ton of responsibility.  And, I would not have it any other way.

Jesus replied, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."  ~Lk 9:62

My question is: are you preparing yourself to be fit for service in the kingdom of God?  Each of us has a decision to make in our lives.  We can live for ourselves, or we can take up something that is more magnanimous, or the most noble of causes.  My prayer is that you take this mandate from Jesus very seriously.  Put your hand to the plow, look forward, and change the world for Jesus.

Praying for you,

MO

Lassitude (Romans 12:1-12)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “lassitude.” The Apostle Paul always understood what the most important piece of the God puzzle was. He knew that for the church to succeed, it was going to have to be rooted in love. Everything else was secondary. Within this was the way that Christians should treat each other. We have a tough enough time helping others who do not believe know why they should believe, let alone adding to the fights within the church. It was important for Paul to tell his followers that keeping zeal was an absolute must.

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” ~Rom 12:11

My question is: are you playing a part when it comes to God's great design? I have always found great value in living life with fervor and zeal, knowing that God could use me at any moment. When we are not ready, opportunities to witness to others. My prayer is that you increase in hope and prayer. Allow God to use you and direct your steps, with all spiritual fervor and excitement. If each of us stays connected to the body of believers, and we remain excited to spread his word, God will do the rest.

Praying for you,

MO

Crepuscular (Proverbs 7.1-11)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “crepuscular.” I remember growing up riding my bike with my friends a lot of the time. It did not really matter where we went, so much as we were away from our parents and embracing freedom. But no matter what, I always had to be home and the streetlights turned on. Dusk governed my life much of those younger years. My mom would often tell me well into my teenage years that nothing good happens after dark. Now of course, she was making a general statement, but with very specific intentions of helping me understand that I needed to be aware of what I was doing, and who I was with at all times. It reminds me of today's passage.

“He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in.” ~Pr. 7:9

My question is: how are you allowing the Lord to guard your heart on a daily basis? Just like this young man was walking directly into a temptation, which he knew would overcome him… so do we flirt with our own daily temptations, like the desire to need more, do more, expect more or different things from God. Whatever it is that consumes your mind, whether thoughts or actions, make sure that they are fully devoted and fixed on God's plan for your life. My prayer is that the Lord protects you during those crepuscular moments in life… the times where the Evil One would like you to take your eyes off of Jesus and follow him down the road to sin. Isn't it great that we have an incredible Savior.

Praying for you,

MO

Landloper (Matthew 3.1-9)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “landloper.” One of my favorite dudes in the Bible is John the Baptist, also known as J-Bap – a term commonly used by one of my proffs at Fuller Seminary.  He was hardcore in his living style, using the land to live off of and make his own clothes. Wow, what a crazy way to do life. But, he did it well, and knew what God’s plan for him was the whole way through…

Now John himself had a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey… As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ~Matt 3:4, 11

My question is: what are you doing to live a life the way God has intended? We see that J-Bap was a man of conviction. His role in the New Testament is pivotal, yet he sees himself as nothing more than one who is preparing the way for JC. My prayer is that you live such a life, that you realize the potential that God has for you, and that you live within that plan. God will give you direction. And even though some might see J-Bap as just a landloper, crazy and moving from place to place, he was actually a very important  part of the God story.  We should all take a page out of his book, and play our small part as well.

Praying for you,

MO